both before dark came reason

Barovian Witch

Monsters Curse of Strahd

","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage.The mad women and men known as Barovian witches forge pacts with Strahd and the Dark Powers of Ravenloft in exchange for magic and longevity. They prefer to live in

the shadows and can see in the dark. When traveling in the open, they use alter self spells to assume less conspicuous forms. They also use these spells to grow long, sharp claws with which they can

Kadroth

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Dark Devotion. The fanatic has advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened. Spellcasting. The fanatic is a 4th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC

in cult affairs because he fears her spellcasting ability and her connection to the Arcane Brotherhood. She could take over the cult anytime she wanted, and Kadroth doesn't want to give her any reason

Snow Sphinx

monsters

13): At Will: Detect Magic, Ice Knife, Minor Illusion 1/Day Each: Dispel Magic, Fear, SuggestionCamouflaged against the ice, a solitary snow sphinx is on the prowl. A shock of dark humanoid hair

whips around a feline face, revealing piercing blue eyes that can freeze foes with a single glance. Compared to its desert-dwelling cousins, this sphinx is far less likely to be defeated with reason or

Darkling Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

speak of a seelie fey who betrayed the Summer Queen. His true name has been stricken from history, but the stories call him Dubh Catha ("Dark Crow" in Common). So great was the Summer Queen's wrath

, and doing so wizens the creature, much like the effect of rapid aging. For this reason, darklings cover every part of their body with clothing when exposure to light is a risk. The light a darkling

Darkling Elder Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

call him Dubh Catha ("Dark Crow" in Common). So great was the Summer Queen's wrath that she cursed every member of his house. Other fey refer to the descendants of Dubh Catha's house as the dubh sith-or

. The Killing Light. The Summer Queen's curse causes a darkling's body to absorb light, and doing so wizens the creature, much like the effect of rapid aging. For this reason, darklings cover every

Axe of the Dwarvish Lords Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Seeing the peril his people faced, a young dwarf prince came to believe that his people needed something to unite them. Thus, he set out to forge a weapon that would be such a symbol. Venturing deep

under the mountains, deeper than any dwarf had ever delved, the young prince came to the blazing heart of a great volcano. With the aid of Moradin, the dwarven god of creation, he first crafted four

Book of Vile Darkness Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

example of blackest magic he came across or devised. Vecna covered every vile topic he could, making the book a gruesome catalog of all mortal wrongs. Other practitioners of evil have held the book and

can’t use this property again until the next dawn. Dark Lore. You can reference the Book of Vile Darkness whenever you make an Intelligence check to recall information about some aspect of evil

Viari

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

thinking of his older brother as the successful one.) But he can be quick to show self-consciousness when talking of where he came from, and he never speaks of the name he bore in that former life. After

and earnest debate, he demonstrates an equal flair for planning and forethought, mad combat moves (involving leaping off high places whenever possible), and dark vengeance. Viari's career as an

Madam Eva

Monsters Curse of Strahd

through her veins. Mother Night. Over four hundred years ago, Katarina came to Barovia and insinuated herself into Strahd’s court, working as a maid in Castle Ravenloft. She came to know the

domain, in hopes that they will find a way to destroy the vampire or set Strahd free. For the Love of Strahd. The Dark Powers of Ravenloft would consider Madam Eva a worthy choice to replace Strahd as

Reborn

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

sensations or visions of the past to come rushing back. Rather than sleeping, reborn regularly sit and dwell on the past, hoping for some revelation of what came before. Most of the time, these are dark

, silent stretches. Occasionally, though, in a moment of peace, stress, or excitement, a reborn gains a glimpse of what came before. When you desire to have such a dreamlike vision, roll on the Lost

Thorny Vegepygmy

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

that live in simple bands, hunting for sustenance and spreading the spores by which they reproduce. Also called mold folk or moldies, vegepygmies inhabit dark, moist areas, so they’re most

construction they have witnessed. Russet Mold Few know for sure where russet mold came from. One historical account tells of adventurers in a mountain range discovering russet mold and vegepygmies in a

Vegepygmy Chief

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

spores by which they reproduce. Also called mold folk or moldies, vegepygmies inhabit dark, moist areas, so they’re most commonly found underground or in forests where little sunlight penetrates

russet mold came from. One historical account tells of adventurers in a mountain range discovering russet mold and vegepygmies in a peculiar metal dungeon full of strange life. Another story says that

Vegepygmy

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Vegepygmies are fungus creatures that live in simple bands, hunting for sustenance and spreading the spores by which they reproduce. Also called mold folk or moldies, vegepygmies inhabit dark, moist areas

by copying simple construction they have witnessed. Russet Mold Few know for sure where russet mold came from. One historical account tells of adventurers in a mountain range discovering russet

Book of Vile Darkness (Variant)

Magic Items Keys from the Golden Vault

example of blackest magic he came across or devised. Vecna covered every vile topic he could, making the book a gruesome catalog of all mortal wrongs. Other practitioners of evil have held the book and

property again until the next dawn. Dark Lore. You can reference the Book of Vile Darkness whenever you make an Intelligence check to recall information about some aspect of evil, such as lore about

Valin Sarnaster

Monsters Candlekeep Mysteries

as the immortal heir of Savras’s realm. The Canopic Being came into her possession years ago, and an obsession with the dark rituals therein set the oracle on her present course. Valin has

the spell, and the spell has no effect and is wasted. Regional Effects Valin’s tomb is warped in any of the following ways by the creature’s dark presence: Food instantly molders

Dimir Operative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

;Disguise kit Languages: One of your choice Equipment: A Dimir insignia, three small knives, a set of dark-colored common clothes, and the starting equipment of the background described in this

guildless masses of the city. Consider why you’re embedded in the secondary guild. Create a story with your DM, inspired by rolling on the following table or choosing a reason that suits you

Sword of Kas Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

. His successes earned him Vecna’s admiration and a reward: a sword with as dark a pedigree as the man who would wield it. For a long time, Kas faithfully served the lich, but as Kas’s

power grew, so did his hubris. His sword urged him to supplant Vecna, so that they could rule the lich’s empire in Vecna’s stead. Legend says Vecna’s destruction came at Kas’s

The Abbot

Monsters Curse of Strahd

some much-needed light to Barovia. His efforts worked for a while, but then the Dark Powers began to corrupt him. Imperfections. The Abbot's fall from grace started when the Belviews—a family of sickly

, inbred lepers—came to the abbey seeking salvation. The deva rid them of their diseases, an act for which they were eternally grateful, but could not cure them of certain human defects that had been

Demilich (Variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

curse on a success.The transformation into a demilich isn’t a bitter end for all liches that experience it. Made as a conscious choice, the path of the demilich becomes the next step in a dark

its existence. Few liches seek to become demiliches, for it means an end to the existence they hoped to preserve by becoming undead. However, time can erode the lich’s reason and memory, causing

Far Traveler

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

provided. The following section, discussing possible homelands, includes some suggested reasons that are appropriate for each location. d6 Reason d6 Reason 1 Emissary 4 Pilgrim

hundreds of miles of the Great Glacier and the Great Ice Sea. No one from your nation makes the effort to cross such colossal barriers without a convincing reason. You must fear something truly

Rakdos Cultist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

very amusing dark side. 2 A Boros captain really wants to “redeem” me. 3 I think a member of my troupe is a Dimir agent. 4 I once convinced a Golgari medusa to participate

in a show. We’ve been on good terms ever since. 5 I came from the Gruul and still have relatives there. 6 An Izzet technician provides pyrotechnics for my performances. 7 An

Eye and Hand of Vecna Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Seldom is the name of Vecna spoken except in a hushed voice. Vecna was, in his time, one of the mightiest of all wizards. Through dark magic and conquest, he forged a terrible empire. For all his

’s lieutenant Kas coveted the Spider Throne for himself, or that the sword his lord made for him seduced him into rebellion. Whatever the reason, Kas brought the Undying King’s rule to an

Hermit - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

’s Gate. You came here seeking something else, only to learn that the quest that drove you had become impossible to fulfill—its object was destroyed or its purpose was negated by some

past that could rewrite history. It might be information that would be damaging to the people who consigned you to exile, and hence the reason for your return to society. Work with your DM to

Hythonia

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

. Unlike other medusas, Hythonia isn’t merely a collector; she’s an artist. When Hythonia came to the island of Skathos, the inhabitants worshiped her as an avatar of the god Pharika. The

worshipers dedicated to Pharika previously hoarded secrets and engaged in dark rituals. Island of Potent Magic. Although Skathos’s location remains a mystery, stories tell of the island’s

Dark Sun

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

only the strongest survive. One of the hallmarks of the Dark Sun setting is that the heroes don’t need to seek out forgotten dungeons to find adventure — mere survival is adventure enough. But there is no reason you can’t successfully adapt Princes of the Apocalypse to your Dark Sun campaign.

Dark Sun The dying planet of Athas is a world that is already deeply scarred by elemental power. Long ago the gods of Athas fought a terrible war against the mighty primordial powers of the elemental

Noble - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

visit prosperous Bloomridge to try a fashionable restaurant or boutique, or watch a spectacle at the Oasis Theater, the patriars have little reason to venture into the dirtier, more dangerous parts of the

unquestioned, and impress those on the lookout for wealthy patrons. You are welcome in the Upper City and may stay there after dark without being harassed or evicted. Your word is accepted over others&rsquo

Unspeakable Horror (Malleable Mass)